Multipurpose mascara and eyeliner applicator device

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose mascara and eyeliner applicator device is described. In this device, a brush tip for the application of eyeliner by the user in combination with a mascara brush for the application of a cosmetic to the eye lashes of the user with a single self-contained device. The brush tip and mascara brush are in fluid communication with a cartridge member having a preferably liquid cosmetic contained therein. The applicator device preferable includes a pair of components that are movable relative to each other to cause the mascara brush and brush tip to extend through the forward opening of the applicator device. The device may also include a mascara brush and brush tip are moveable relative to each other such that the components may be extended depending on whether or not the user is applying eyeliner or mascara.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation-in-part application ofco-pending application No. 62/038,635 filed on Aug. 18, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to an applicator for cosmetics and inparticular to a multi-purpose applicator for the application of eyelinerand mascara.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The cosmetic industry has supplied and used eye makeup with applicatorbrushes for many years. More specifically, the industry standard brushfor the application of a cosmetic to eye lash has been a twisted wirebristles on mascara brushes. The twisted wire bristles on mascarabrushes have been used for many years because of the ease of manufactureand durability.

Mascara is used to elongate, thicken and darken the eye lashes. Eyelineris used to accentuate the eyes by outlining and giving definition to theshape of the eyes. Mascara and eyeliner are available in a light fluidpaste wax or in liquid form in various forms such as dyes or similarcompositions. The mascara is typically applied by a makeup brush that isattached to the end of a wand. Eyeliner is typically applied using aseparate brush or an eyeliner pencil.

Mascara is usually applied by holding the wand horizontally, rolling thewand slightly in an upward motion for applying the mascara to the upperlashes and in a downward motion for applying mascara to the lowerlashes, moving along the length of the lashes to brush on and distributethe mascara evenly. Applying mascara to lower lashes should be donelightly to avoid smudging. Eyeliner is applied by drawing a thin linealong the length of the upper and lower lash lines, close to the base ofthe lashes. This is typically done using a separate brush or an eyelinerpencil. An example of a common mascara brush is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,709,230 granted to Miraglia.

U.S. Publication No. 2006/0162736 filed by Gray and published on Jul.27, 2006 is directed to a brush that includes sections for applyingmascara to eye lashes and a brush section with multiple flexiblebristles that extend outwardly from the end of the wand for applyingmascara to the lash lines. As shown, the bristles are basically alignedperpendicular to each other to provide a section of the brush that maybe used to apply mascara to the eyebrows and another group of bristlesthat are aligned to allow for the application of eyeliner to the base ofthe eye brows. In this application, the inventor emphasizes that thebristles of the mascara brush section and eye liner brush tip sectionare made of nylon, polyester or horsehair such that they are moreflexible than the standard twisted wire brushes.

U.S. Publication No. 2012/0132222 filed by Gueret and published on May31, 2012 is directed to an eyeliner applicator. As disclosed in thispublication, the eyeliner applicator is intended to be a leak proofdevice that includes an applicator tip that is stored in contact withthe liquid eyeliner. When the user desires to use the eyeliner, theapplicator is separated from the liquid eyeliner composition containerand the tip of the applicator is applied to the lash line of the user.

According to a translation of Chinese Publication No. CN103040229published on Apr. 17, 2013 a combination eyeliner and lipstick containeris provided. In this device, one end of the container includes thelipstick while the other end includes an eyeliner applicator. Asdescribed, this container basically consists of an eyeliner applicatorconnected to the end of a lipstick to provide the user with a devicethat provides two types of makeup in a single container.

The mascara and eyeliner applicator of the present invention providesnumerous advantages over the prior art devices by providing a convenientdual purpose applicator that may be conveniently carried by the user.Instead of requiring separate containers and brushes for the mascara andeyeliner or a mascara brush and a separate eyeliner pencil, the presentinvention provides a combination device that includes both a mascarabrush and eyeliner applicator in a single device.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the mascara brush orthe eyeliner applicator may alternately be exposed to allow the user toapply makeup to the desired location. In one form of this invention, theeyeliner applicator may be exposed in one position of an actuator andthe mascara brush may alternately be exposed in another position of theactuator while both the mascara brush and eyeliner applicator are influid communication with the fluid makeup when the respective componentis exposed for use. These and other advantages and improvements over theexisting devices are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a top side view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the present invention with theeyeliner applicator exposed.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the present invention with the mascara brushexposed.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the present invention showing the internalcomponents of the invention aligned in the feeder tube.

FIG. 5 shows another exploded view of the present invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of an alternate form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternate form of the presentinvention illustrating the extended mascara brush.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the alternate form of thepresent invention illustrating the components enclosed within theforward component of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

As shown in the drawings, the present invention is directed to animproved mascara and eyeliner applicator device 10 having an overallelongate and generally pen-like shape with an outer casing 12 having afront opening 14 on the forward end of the casing and a plunger member34 on the rear end of the casing. The outer casing 12 generally consistsof a forward component 16 and a rear component 18. The forward component16 and rear component 18 are movable with respect to each other to causethe actuation of an ejector wheel member 30 that is described in moredetail below. As shown, the outer surface of the rear component 18 ispreferably configured to facilitate the grasping of the outer surface ofthe device 10 by the user for the convenient application of eyeliner andmascara.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 is arranged in a storage or transportconfiguration wherein the brush tip 22 and mascara brush 24 are enclosedwithin the forward component of the outer casing 12. FIG. 2 isillustrative of an arrangement wherein the brush tip 22 extends throughthe front opening 14 and forward of the front component 16. The movementof device from the transport configuration to the arrangement whereinthe brush tip 22 is extended is caused by the relative movement of theforward component 16 and rear component 18 wherein the ejector wheelengages a member such as a threaded area on the interior of the casingand causes the feeder tube 20 to move forward relative to the outercasing 12. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the user is able toapply eyeliner to the base of their eye brows.

As shown in FIG. 3, the device 10 is arranged in a further configurationwherein the mascara brush 24 is caused to extend through the frontopening 14 of the outer casing 12. The movement of device from theextended brush tip 22 configuration to the arrangement wherein themascara brush 22 is extended is caused by the additional relativemovement of the forward component 16 and the rear component 18 whereinthe ejector wheel causes the feeder tube 20 to move forward relative tothe outer casing 12. In this configuration, the user is able to applymascara to the eye lashes using the mascara brush 24.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are illustrative of the components located internally ofthe outer casing 12. On the forward end of the device, the brush tip 22is configured with a tapered tip to allow the user to apply small linesalong the base of their eye lashes. In this embodiment, the cosmeticfluid 36 that is dispensed by the device 10 preferably flows out of theforward end of the brush tip 22 when the user depresses the plungermember 34. The fluid flow from the brush tip 22 may be caused by thepressure of the user depressing the plunger member 34 or by capillaryaction once the cosmetic fluid 36 is flowing to the brush tip 22. It isanticipated that the brush tip may be approximately ¼ inch long and isformed of a variety of materials, such as plastics, metals or porousmaterials to provide the desired form or shape of the brush tip 22 toallow the user to apply the cosmetic fluid 36 to the base of the eyelashes of the user. The cosmetic fluid 36 of the present invention maybe in the form of a dye or other currently available flowable material.

In this embodiment, the mascara brush 24 is located rearwardly of thebrush tip 22 such that when the forward component 16 and rear component18 are moved relative to each other, the mascara brush 24 will beexposed for use by the user. The relative rotation of the forwardcomponent 16 and rear component 18 may be arranged to be furtherrotation of these components in the same direction as needed to exposethe brush tip 22 or in the opposite direction such that rotation in aclockwise manner will expose the brush tip 22 while rotation in thecounterclockwise direction will expose the mascara brush 24. In thisembodiment, the mascara brush 24 is fluidly connected to the cosmeticcartridge 26 such that depression of the plunger member 34 causes thecosmetic fluid 36 to flow through or around the bristles of the mascarabrush 24. This allows the user to brush the cosmetic fluid 36 onto theireye lashes in the manner described above. In a preferred form of themascara brush 24, it is preferably about 1 inch long and is formed ofmetal or plastic bristles.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an embodiment of the present inventionincludes an elongate and cylindrical feeder tube 20 attached to andextending rearwardly from the mascara brush 24 and brush tip 22. Asshown, the feeder tube 20 encloses the cosmetic fluid 36 containingcartridge 38. As described above, the forward end of the cartridge 26 isin fluid communication with the mascara brush 24 and brush tip 22 tosupply to the cosmetic fluid 36 to the application components of thedevice 10. The rear end of the cartridge 26 is contacted by the forwardend of a plunger member 34 which operates in combination with an innerspring member 32 to allow the plunger member 34 to engage and retractfrom the cartridge in response to actuation by the user on the back endof the rear component 18 of the outer casing 12. The use of a cosmeticfluid 36 containing cartridge 26 in this embodiment provides a secureleak proof repository of cosmetic fluid 36 to reduce the likelihood thatthe device of the present invention will leak during storage or use.Additionally, the present invention may be configured to allow for theuse of multiple different colored or replacement cosmetic fluid 36containing cartridges using the same device 10 or the device may beconfigured to initially pierce the cartridge during the initial use,thereby providing a secure leak proof device prior to use. Thecombination of the plunger member 34 and inner spring 32 allows the userto precisely control the amount of cosmetic fluid 36 that flows to thebrush tip 22 and/or mascara brush 24.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer surface of the rear portion of thefeeder tube 20 includes the ejector wheel 30 thereon. The ejector wheelpreferably threadedly engages a surface on the interior of the rearcomponent 18 of the outer casing 12. Therefore, relative movementbetween the forward component 16 and the rear component 18 engages theinterior of the outer casing 12 and the ejector wheel 30 to cause thefeeder tube 12, mascara brush 24 and brush tip 22 to move relative tothe outer casing 12.

As described above, operation of the present invention is relativelysimple and allows the user to apply the cosmetic fluid as an eyelinerand a mascara. The device is initially provided in a first configurationwherein the brush tip 22 and mascara brush 24 are enclosed within thefront opening 14 of the device 10. Additionally, the plunger member 34is spaced apart from the cartridge 26 such that no cosmetic fluid 36 isprovided to the brush tip 22 or mascara brush 24 until the userdepresses the plunger member 34. When the user desires to applyeyeliner, they may move the forward component 16 relative to the rearcomponent 18 to cause the ejector wheel 30 to engage the interiorsurface of the outer casing 12. This causes the brush tip 22 to extendthrough the front opening 14 of the device. The user may then depressthe plunger member 34 on the back end of the device to cause thecosmetic fluid 36 to flow from the cartridge 26 to the brush tip 22.Once the user has completed the application of the eyeliner, they mayagain move the forward component 16 relative to the rear component 18 tocause the ejector wheel 30 to engage the interior surface of the outercasing and expose the mascara brush 24 of the device 10. The user maythen depress the plunger member 34 to cause the cosmetic fluid 36 toflow to the bristles of the mascara brush 24. When the user hascompleted the application of the cosmetic fluid 36 to the eyebrows, theymay rotate the forward component 16 relative to the rear component 18 tocause the brush tip 22 and mascara brush 24 to retract into the frontopening 14 of the device 10. The present invention also provides theuser with the flexibility to apply mascara and/or eyeliner with a singleself-contained device. Although the brush tip 22 and mascara brush 24are shown in this embodiment as being located on a single extension, itis anticipated that the brush tip 22 and mascara brush 24 may be locatedon independently movable extensions such that actuation of the ejectorwheel 30 or similar device will allow the user to extend the desiredbrush tip 22 or mascara brush 24.

FIGS. 6-9 are illustrative of an alternate form of the present inventionwherein the mascara brush 56 is movable relative to the brush tip 58. Inthis embodiment, a number of components are in common or similar infunction to the components described above and therefore, for the sakeof brevity, are not separately described in detail below. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the cosmetic device 40 of the present embodiment includesan outer casing 42 comprised of a front opening 44, forward component46, rear component 48 and a plunger member 50 located on the back end ofthe cosmetic device 40. As with the prior embodiment, the forwardcomponent 46 and rear component 48 are movable relative to each other tocause the mascara brush 56 and brush tip 58 to extend beyond the frontopening 44 of the cosmetic device 40 in response to the interactionbetween the ejector wheel and the outer casing 42.

As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 8, the alternate embodimentincludes a feeder tube extension 52 which connects to and extendsforwardly of the feeder tube (not shown). In this embodiment, a mascarabrush actuator 54 is provided to cause the mascara brush 56 to moverelative to the brush tip 58. The relative movement of the mascara brush58 and brush tip 58 in this embodiment is accomplished through the useof a threaded component that causes the mascara brush 56 to moveforwardly along the feeder tube extension 52 to substantially cover thebrush tip 58. This allows the user to move the mascara brush 56 to theforward end of the alternate device to ensure that the brush tip 58 doesnot interfere with the application of the cosmetic fluid to the eyelashes of the user.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the outer diameters of the forward component46 and rear component 48 may be of different outer dimensions relativeto each other. For example, in FIG. 9, the outer diameter of the forwardcomponent is sufficiently large to allow it to be readily moved over themascara brush 56. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the front opening44 and forward component 46 of this embodiment are shown smaller thantheir actual size relative to the feeder tube extension 52 to emphasizethe features of mascara brush actuator 54 and the relative movement ofthe mascara brush 56 and brush tip 58.

The cosmetic device 40 also includes a plurality of openings 60 and 62to provide for the flow of cosmetic fluid (not shown) from the cartridge(not shown) in response to the actuation of the plunger member 50. Asshown, a plurality of mascara brush openings 60 are located along thebase of the bristles of the mascara brush 56. A plurality of brush tipopenings 62 are preferably located forwardly of the mascara brush 56 toprovide cosmetic fluid to the brush tip for the application of eyelinerto the base of the eye lashes of the user. In a preferred form of theembodiment, the mascara brush openings 60 are in separate fluidcommunication with the cartridge from the brush tip openings 62 toprovide for the flow of cosmetic fluid to the brush tip 58 when thebrush tip 58 is extended and through the mascara brush openings 60 whenthe mascara brush 56 is moved forwardly to cover the majority of thebrush tip 58. In an alternate form of this embodiment, the flow ofcosmetic fluid may be allowed through each set of openings withoutregard to the relative position between the mascara brush 56 and brushtip 58.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic application device comprising; Anelongate and generally cylindrical casing having a forward end and arear end; A mascara brush movable between an enclosed position withinthe casing and an extended position wherein the mascara brush extendsbeyond the forward end of the casing; A brush tip movable between anenclosed position within the casing and an extended position wherein thebrush tip extends beyond the forward end of the casing; At least one ofthe mascara brush and the brush tip are in cosmetic flow communicationwith a cosmetic containing component located within the casing; and Thecasing including a plurality of components that are movable with respectto each other to cause at least one of the mascara brush and brush tipto move from the enclosed position to the extended position in responseto the relative movement of the casing components.
 2. The cosmeticapplication device of claim 1 wherein the mascara brush and brush tipare located on an elongate member which includes at least one fluidcommunication channel to allow the cosmetic to flow from the cosmeticcontaining component to at least one of the mascara brush and the brushtip.
 3. The cosmetic application device of claim 2 wherein the casingfurther includes a plunger element which is actuatable by a user toallow the user to cause the flow of cosmetic from the cosmeticcontaining component to at least one of the mascara brush and brush tip.4. The cosmetic application device of claim 1 wherein the mascara brushincludes a plurality of bristles therein and a fluid channel to allow auser to control the flow of cosmetic from the cosmetic containingcomponent to the bristles of the mascara brush.
 5. The cosmeticapplication device of claim 1 wherein the brush tip is a generallytapered member and includes at least one fluid channel in communicationtherewith to allow the user to control the flow of cosmetic from thecosmetic containing component to a location generally adjacent to aportion of the brush tip.
 6. The cosmetic application device of claim 1wherein the mascara brush and brush tip are movable relative to eachother.
 7. The cosmetic application device of claim 1 wherein the rearend of the casing includes a plunger member associated therewith toallow for the flow of the cosmetic from the cosmetic containingcomponent to at least one of the mascara brush and brush tip.
 8. Thecosmetic application of claim 7 wherein both the mascara brush and brushtip are in flow communication with a cartridge member enclosed withinthe casing.
 9. The cosmetic application device of claim 8 wherein thecasing includes a plurality of members that are movable relative to eachother to cause at least one of the mascara brush and brush tip to movefrom an enclosed position within the casing to an extended position anda plunger member further associated with the casing such that actuationof the plunger member causes the flow of a cosmetic fluid from thecartridge in the casing to a location adjacent to at least one of themascara brush or brush tip.
 10. A cosmetic application devicecomprising; An elongate and generally cylindrical casing having aforward end and a rear end; A mascara brush movable between an enclosedposition within the casing and an extended position wherein the mascarabrush extends beyond the forward end of the casing; A brush tip movablebetween an enclosed position within the casing and an extended positionwherein the brush tip extends beyond the forward end of the casing; Atleast one of the mascara brush and the brush tip are in cosmetic flowcommunication with a cosmetic containing cartridge located within thecasing; The casing including a plurality of components that are movablewith respect to each other to cause at least one of the mascara brushand brush tip to move from the enclosed position to the extendedposition in response to the relative movement of the casing components;and A plunger member movable with respect to the casing and cartridge tocause the flow of cosmetic from the cartridge to at least one of themascara brush and brush tip.
 11. The cosmetic application device ofclaim 10 wherein clockwise or counterclockwise relative movement of aforward and rearward component of the casing cause the extension of atleast one of the mascara brush and brush tip from the enclosed positionto the extended position.
 12. The cosmetic application device of claim10 wherein the mascara brush and brush tip are movable relative to eachother.
 13. The cosmetic application device of claim 10 wherein themascara brush and brush tip are in fluid communication with at least onefluid channel that extends forwardly from the cartridge to cause theflow of cosmetic from the cartridge to at least one of the mascara brushand brush tip.
 14. A cosmetic application device comprising; An elongateand generally cylindrical casing having a forward end and a rear end; Amascara brush movable between an enclosed position within the casing andan extended position wherein the mascara brush extends beyond theforward end of the casing; A brush tip movable between an enclosedposition within the casing and an extended position wherein the brushtip extends beyond the forward end of the casing; At least one of themascara brush and the brush tip are in cosmetic flow communication witha cosmetic containing cartridge located within the casing; The casingincluding a plurality of components that are movable with respect toeach other to cause the mascara brush and brush tip to move from theenclosed position to the extended position in response to the relativemovement of the casing components; and A plunger member movable withrespect to the casing and cartridge to cause the flow of cosmetic fromthe cartridge to at least one of the mascara brush and brush tip. 15.The cosmetic application device of claim 14 further including at leastone opening adjacent to bristles on the mascara brush to allow the flowof cosmetic from the cartridge to the bristles in response to themovement of the plunger member.
 16. The cosmetic application device ofclaim 14 further including at least one opening adjacent to the brushtip to allow the flow of cosmetic from the cartridge to a locationadjacent to the brush tip in response to the movement of the plungermember.
 17. The cosmetic application device of claim 14 furtherincluding at least one opening adjacent to bristles on the mascara brushto allow the flow of cosmetic from the cartridge to the bristles inresponse to the movement of the plunger member and at least one openingadjacent to the brush tip to allow the flow of cosmetic from thecartridge to a location adjacent to the brush tip in response to themovement of the plunger member.
 18. The cosmetic application device ofclaim 14 further including at least one opening adjacent to bristles onthe mascara brush to allow the flow of cosmetic from the cartridge tothe bristles in response to the movement of the plunger member and atleast one opening adjacent to the brush tip to allow the flow ofcosmetic from the cartridge to a location adjacent to the brush tip inresponse to the movement of the plunger member and wherein each of saidat least one openings are in separate flow communication with thecartridge.